Continuous mining apparatus with floor clean up devices



July 19, 1955 CONTINiUOUS MINING APPARATUS WITI-i FLOOR CLEAN UP DEVICESFiled Feb. 28, 1951 D. WIEBE 3 Sheets-Sheet l 2 [2n/enig@ 002202372175636.

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July 19, 1955 D. wlEBE 2,713,479

CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS WITH FLOOR CLEANUP DEVICES I Filed Feb. 28,1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g I imi D. WIEBE July 19, 1955 CONTINUOUS MININGAPPARATUS WITH FLOOR CLEAN UP DEVICES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28,1951 Eig/f.

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United States Patent O CONTINUGUS MINING APPARATUS WITH FLOOR CLEAN UPDEVICES Donald Wiebe, Franklin, Pa., assigner to Joy ManufacturingCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationFebruary 23, 1951, Serial No. 213,209

Claims. (Cl. 2152-29) My invention relates to mining apparatus, and moreparticularly to that type of mining apparatus which is known as acontinuous miner. This type of apparatus is used to mine coal or othersuitable minerals from a seam or vein without the use of explosives, andto load out the material as mining progresses.

In a preferred embodiment, a continuous miner may include a mobile base,such as a tractor base, adapted to travel over a mine floor, andcarrying a frame which is mounted for horizontal swinging movementrelative t0 the base and which has, slidably mounted on it, forrectilinear movements in radial lines with respect to the axis aboutwhich the swiveled frame is turnable, another frame. The miner mayfurther include a vertically swingable disintegrating mechanismextending outwardly from the swiveled frame and carried by the radiallyslidable frame and including orbitally moving disintegrating elementswhich are adapted to disintegrate an upright band of coal or othermineral by sumping, swinging and withdrawal movements of thedisintegrating mechanism; and, by adjustments of the horizontallyswingable swiveled frame, and repeated performance of the sumping,swinging and withdrawing cycle, the seam or vein may be disintegrated tothe desired width. While the disintegrating operation is in progress,the disintegrating mechanism discharges to a material-receiving conveyorsystem, which includes material receiving and conveying means extendingdownwardly and forwardly beneath at least the rearward portion of thevertically swingable disintegrating mechanism, and which is adapted tobe advanced with the latter during the sumping operation and to beretracted with the latter during the withdrawal movements of saiddisintegrating mechanism. The forward end of the material-receivingconveyor may desirably be Vertically adjustable, and, to clean upmaterial which may fall to the mine bottom during the disintegratingoperation, clean-up devices may be associated with the forward end ofthe conveying means.

The disintegrating apparatus is provided with means for swinging it inupright planes as well as advancing and retracting it to effect itssumping and withdrawal movements. And the clean-up devices are providedwith power means for advancing them from rearwardly inclined positionsto positions at least nearly, if not completely, in alinement with eachother and at right angles to the paths of reciprocation of thedisintegrating mechanism and conveyor means.

It is desirable that the clean-up devices shall be able to traverse themine floor as they are yswung from their rearwardly angled positions totheir at least nearly alined positions, and as they advance with thedisintegrating mechanism and the forward end of the material-receivingconveyor; that they be controllable to facilitate their passing overprojections of the mine bottom, and that they he lifted from the minebottom during retraction, so that they will both be easier to retractand so that they will not tend to scrape loose material which getsbehind them backwards and beyond the possibility of being 2,713,479Patented July 19, 1955 cleaned up by the apparatus in its normaloperation. Briefly, it is desirable that the clean up devices remainnormally in lowered position during their forward movements, that theybe capable of being lifted at any time during such movements tofacilitate passing over obstructions, that they be lifted duringretraction in all events, and that they have their amount of lift duringretraction controllable.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmining apparatus incorporating cleanup devices having improved controlmeans. Another object is to provide improved reciprocable apparatus foreffecting the cleaning up of loose material from a mine loor andincluding improved control means for eiecting controlled elevationduring advance and automatic elevation during retraction. Other objectsof the invention will hereinafter appear.

ln the accompanying drawings, in which one illustrative embodiment ofthe invention is shown,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the forward portion of a continuousminer in which the illustrative embodiment of the invention isincorporated.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section through theapparatus of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 33 of Fig. 2,showing details of the sumping and withdrawing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the clean-up deviceselevated above the mine iioor.

Fig. 5 is asection, taken on the plane of the line 5--5 of Fig. 2,showing the pusher and conveyor scroll arrangement with the scrolls inrearward, retracted position.

Fig. 6 is a hydraulic diagram.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view through a valve device whichforms a part of the elevation control of the clean-up apparatus.

Fig. 8 is another detail sectional view showing the valve device of Fig.7 in its other extreme position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section taken on the plane of the line 9 9of Fig. 5.

Fig. l0 is an enlarged horizontal sectional View taken on the plane ofthe line itl- 10 of Fig. 2, illustrating details of the pusher frame.

Fig. ll is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section taken on the planeof line 11--11 of Fig. 5, with parts omitted.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on the plane of theline 1212 of Fig. l0, illustrating the pivotal mounting of one of thescroll housings.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken through one of the conveyorscrolls, showing details of the scroll drive.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional View taken on the plane ofthe line ld-ld of Fig. 13 showing the scroll housing structure and itsrelation to an associated scroll.

The invention is shown incorporated in a continuous mining apparatuscomprising a mobile support or base 1, having a frame 2, which hasswivelled upon it for swinging about a vertical axis (not shown) ahorizontal supporting frame or turntable 4. Turntable 4 has a horizontalportion 5 projecting forwardly in advance of the base 1; and a slidingframe or support 6 is guided on this horizontal frame portion forhorizontal rectilinear movement thereon radially with respect to theaxis of the turntable d. rfhe sliding frame or support 6 has pivotallymounted upon it, for swinging on a horizontal transverse axis 8, a frameor bar structure 7, and this frame or bar structure also swingshorizontally with the turntable 4 relative to the base 1.

The vertically swingable bar structure '7 extends forwardly in advanceof the turntable 4, with its pivotal axis 8 located, when the slidingframe 6 is retracted, a substantial distance in advance of the base, sothat the sliding frame always overhangs by a substantial amount thefront end of the base.

The swingable bar structure 7 carries a mineral vein attacking anddisintegrating mechanism generally designated 9. A front loadingconveyor 10 on the sliding frame 6 extends forwardly and downwardlybeneath the attacking and disintegrating mechanism (as Shown in Fig. 2)for receiving the disintegrated material discharged from the attackingand disintegrating mechanism and for delivering the disintegratedmaterial rearwardly.

For the purpose of this case, further description of this portion of thestructure of the continuous mining apparatus appears unnecessary,particularly in view of the fact that there is a full disclosure thereofin applications of John D. Russell, Serial No. 102,995 and John RtSibley, Serial No. 102,996, both owned by the assignee of the presentinvention.

The vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 includes the frame orbar structure 7 and endless, orbitally moving chains 12, each equippedwith disintegrating elements or teeth 13, and driven as in the saidSibley and Russell applications, by power from motors 14 carried at thesides of the turntable 4 (but one is shown in the drawings of thisapplication) and relative to which the sliding frame 6 is slidable. Themotors 14 are also the source of power for the conveyor 1t). The drivingconnections for the chains are not illustrated herein, being fully shownin the Russell and Sibley applications. The front loading conveyor 10and the vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 are advanced andretracted with the sliding frame 6 relative to the turntable 4 by twocylinder and piston devices 16, to which devices uid under pressure maybe supplied from a pump P embodied in the continuous mining apparatus.The cylinder and piston devices 16, as shown in Fig. 3, comprisehorizontal cylinders 18, pivotally connected at 19 to the turntable 4and containing reciprocable pistons 20 having piston rods 21 extendingforwardly from the front ends of the cylinders 18 and connected at 22with the sliding frame 6, as is also fully disclosed in the Sibley andRussell applications.

The vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 may be swung upwardlyin vertical planes about the axis 8 by cylinder and piston devices 24,as is fully disclosed in a copending application of John D. Russell,Serial No. 139,631, owned by the assignee of the present invention, andthese devices include single acting cylinders 2S mounted one on eitherside of the swingable bar structure 7 and having in them pistons 26connected by piston rods 27 with links 28 pivotally supported at theirforward ends 29 by the bar structure 7 and having their other endsconnected by flexible chain sections 30 to a gear casing portion 31 ofthe frame 6. Further description of this swinging mechanism for the veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 is unnecessary, but it may benoted that the supply of fluid to the cylinders will effect upward swingof the disintegrating mechanism, and release of the fluid so suppliedwill permit downswing of the mechanism 9.

Beneath the vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism 9 and forwardlyof the base 1 there is a substantial space, and in this space there isarranged a floor cleanup arrangement generally designated 36, which actsin conjunction with the vein attacking and disintegrating mechanism inthe cleaning up and discharge of any loose material which falls to themine floor in advance of the base. This clean-up mechanism moves loosematerial on the mine floor laterally toward the center line of theconveyor 10 and collects it beneath the vein attacking anddisintegrating mechanism 9 so that it may be engaged by the latter andbe moved forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly by the chains 12 onto thefront loading conveyor 10.

Pivotally mounted on bearings 40 supported by caps 41 secured tovertical side frames 42 of the frame of the front loading conveyor 10 isa swingable frame 43. This is arranged between the side plates of theconveyor frame, and the caps 41 support a tubular shaft 44 which has acentrally located circular ange 45 which guides the chain of the frontloading conveyor 10, as shown in Fig. 9. Accordingly, the swingableframe 43 may swing upwardly and downwardly about an axis in the samestraight line with the longitudinal axis of the tubular shaft 44. Thepivoted frame 43 has vertical side plates 46 which pivotally engage thebearings 4t), These side plates 46, at their forward portions, carrybearings 47 in which a horizontal transverse shaft 48 is mounted, asshown in Fig. 10. The axis of the shaft 48 is parallel with the pivotalaxis of the frame 43 and supports, at the inner sides of the plates 46,bearings 49 on which vertical side plates 50 of a pivoted pusher frame51 are mounted.

The pusher frame 51 has a forward horizontal portion 52, which has aplane transverse upright front pusher surface 53, and rearwardly of thesurface 53 there is a central plane surface 55 having upwardly concavelateral surfaces 56 at either side of it. 4These concave surfaces curvefrom their outer edges inwardly and upwardly toward the plane topsurface 5S. Projecting from the front surface of the pusher frame arelugs 57 which have forwardly and upwardly inclined surfaces 58 to reducethe possibility that the pusher frame might dig into the oor as it isadvanced. Links S9 are pivotally connected at their forward ends at 60to the pusher frame 51, and at their rear ends are connected at 61 tolugs integral with the conveyor frame. The links 59 cooperate with thepivoted frame 43 to provide a parallel motion mounting for the pusherframe 51 whereby the latter is maintained substantially horizontal asthe frame 43 is swung about its pivot.

Pivotally connected at 62 to the conveyor frame beneath the frontloading conveyor is a single acting fluid cylinder 63 which contains areciprocable piston 64 having a piston rod 65 projecting forwardly fromthe front head of the cylinder 63 and connected at 66 to lugs 67 whichare integral with the rear portion of the pivoted frame 43.

Supply of tluid under pressure to the rear end of the cylinder 63 willcause the piston 64 to etfcct swing of the frame 43 upwardly and willthereby lift the pusher frame 51 above the mine floor. Fig. 4 shows thislifted position. On the other hand, venting of fluid from the cylinder63 will permit the frame 43 to swing downwardly, and the pusher framewill be lowered to the mine oor. Incidentally, the swingable frame 43and the links 59 cooperate to provide a floating mounting for the pusherframe so that the latter may freely ride up and down in passing over anuneven mine surface. Excessive downward movement of the pusher frame 51is prevented by the provision of lugs 68 on the swingable frame 43,which lugs are engageable with abutment lugs 69 at the sides of theconveyor frame, as shown in Fig. l1. Projecting from the sides of thepusher frame 51, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, are spaced lugs 71 betweenwhich, lugs 72 on scroll housings 73 are loosely intertted, and the lugs71 have alined vertical openings for receiving pivot pins 74 with whichthe lugs 72 are pivotally engaged. These pivot pins are loosely mountedin the openings of the lugs 71, and these openings are made oval asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, so that the scroll housings 73, whenin their forward positions have some freedom of vertical tiltingmovement, as well as horizontal swinging movement with respect to thepusher frame. The provision of such limited tilt of the scroll housingsenables the latter to ride freely over any small obstructions on themine oor, but the lug openings which receive the pivot pins 74 are soshaped that the scroll housings are not able to tilt downwardly at theirouter ends when in forward position; and when in their rearward positionthe scroll housings are held rigid against vertical tilt.

Each conveyor scroll arrangement includes a conveyor scroll or spiralconveyor in the form of a helix mounted on a tubular shaft 76 journaledsolely at its outer end in spaced bearings 77 (see Fig. 13) supported bya housing 79 secured to the scroll housing and providing an outerclosure for the scroll housing. The inner ends of the scrolls are open,and generally conical plugs 80 are secured to the inner ends oi thescroll shafts. Each scroll housing, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, extendsmore than half way around the scroll and has a substantiallysemi-cylindrical inner surface 81 with which the outer peripheral edgesof the scroll vanes may engage to supplement the outer bearings 77 inthe mounting of the scroll for rotation. Each scroll housing has abottom lip 82 which is beveled or inclined and which is adapted to moveover the oor and to direct loose material toward the scroll as thehousing is moved fordownwardly toward its sumping position with itsforward end at the floor level the bottom runs of the disintegratingchains 12 engage the collected material on the oor and move it forwardlyand upwardly, and then the top runs ot the chains move the materialrearwardly along the top of the attacking and disintegrating mechanismto discharge onto the front loading conveyor 10.

Each scroll shaft 76 has ixed to it, intermediate its bearings 77, aspur gear 8S which is enclosed in the housing 79. Mounted on the housing79 is a conventional hydraulic motor 86 having a'spur pinion 87 xed toits power shaft and meshing with a spur gear S8 tixed to a shaft 89journaled in bearings 90 supported within the housing 79. Fixed to eachshaft 89 is a spur gear 91 meshing with a spur gear 92 journaled on ashaft 93 suitably supported within the housing 79. The gear 92 mesheswith and drives the spur gear 85. These scrolls drives are similar tothose disclosed in the copending application of .ohn D. Russell, SerialNo. 95,673, now abandoned, owned by the assignee of the presentinvention.

Double acting cylinder and piston devices 95 are pro vided for swingingthe scroll housings 73 horizontally about their pivots relative to thepusher frame 51, and include luid cylinders 96 loosely pivotallyconnected at their inner ends at 97 to lugs 98 projecting from the sidesof the pusher frame, so that they may swing horizontally and tiltslightly in a vertical direction. Reciprocable in these cylinders arepistons 99 having piston rods 100 projecting outwardly from the outercylinder heads, and the piston rods are loosely pivotally connected at101 at their outer ends to the rear sides of the scroll housings 73.Liquid under pressure may be supplied to the motors S6 from any suitablesource, and one such source is described in the co-pending applicationof John D. Russell, Serial No. 95,673, mentioned above.

Referring now to Figs, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8, and first paricularly to Fig-6, it will be noted that a series of valve box units are illustrated at150. These include a unit 151 for the control of the cylinder and pistonmechanism 63, 64, a unit 152 for the control of the sumping andwithdrawing cylinder and piston mechanisms 16, 16, a fluid supply andrelief-Valve unit 153, a discharge unit 154, and several other unitsproviding controls for other mechanisms of the mining apparatus withwhich there is no present concern.

The pump P supplies hydraulic uid drawn from a tank 156 via a conduit157 to a conduit 158 which leads to the unit 153, which may be of anywell known construction; and a discharge or return conduit 159 connectsthe unit 154 back with the tank 156.

The unit 151 contains a valve element 161 operable by any suitabie meansand adapted to connect an annular groove 162 with which a conduit 163communicates with a supply groove 164 when the valve 161 is movedupwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6, and to connect the conduit163 with an exhaust passage 166 when the valve 161 is moved downwardlyfrom the position of Fig. 6. As is common in such valve units theexhaust passage 166 extends from the unit 153 completely through to theunit 154, and when the valves of the several units are initiaL so tospeak, the supply groove is connected also with the unit 154, and thereis a flow through of fluid under pressure which is interrupted wheredisplacement of any valve sufficient to effect uid supply to the devicewhich it controls takes place. Conduit 163 leads to one end of a shuttlevalve casing 16S, being connected with the latter at 169. The casing 168has a bore 171 in which lthere is reciprocable a shuttle valve 1'72,which is provided peripherally with three annular grooves 173, 174 and175. The groove 173 is connected by a diametric passage 177 and an axialpassage 178 with the end of the valve 172 adjacent the connection 169.The grooves 174 and are connected together by diametric passages 181 and182 and a longitudinal passage 183. A spring 184 acting against anabutment ring 185 normally maintains the valve 172 in the position shownin Fig. 8, but is comm pressible to permit the Valve 172 to move to theposition of Fig. 7. The casing 163 is provided with lateral cham bers187 and 18E. The annular groove 173 communicates with the chamber 187when the valve 172 is moved to the right as in Fig. 7, and, when thevalve is in its other extreme position the chamber 137 communicates withthe annular groove 174. 1n the latter position of the valve 172, thechamber 13S communicates with the annular groove 175, and accordinglythere is established a connection between the chambers 187 and 18Sthrough the diametric passages 181, 182, the longitudinal passage 133,and the annular grooves 174 and 175. in the position of the Valve shownin Fig. 7, chamber 188 is blocked off cy an impcrforate portion 190 ofthe periphery of the valve 172. A conduit 191 communicates with thechamber 137, and a conduit 192 communicates with the chamber 183. Theconduit 191 leads to the rear end of the cylinder 63, and, when uid issupplied to the conduit 191, the clean-up mechanism is raised, dependingupon the amount of fluid supplied, from the position shown in Fig. 1towards or to the position shown in Fig. 4. The unit 152 contains amultispool valve 202 having spools 203 and 204 which control thecommunication of grooves 205 and 206, which communicate respectivelywith conduits 207 and 208, with the central exhaust passage 166 and witha pair of connected supply grooves 211 and 212 of which the former formsa part of the now-through passage. Downward movement of the valveelement 202 connects the passage 20S to the exhaust and the passage 207to supply, while upward movement of the valve 202 effects oppositeconnections. The conduit 207 connects with a conduit 215 which leads tothe forward ends of both of the cylinders 1S and with which the conduit192 is also connected. The conduit 208 leads to a conduit 216 which isconnected with the rearward ends of both of the cylinders 18. A conduit221 connects the ends of the cylinders 96, fluid supply to which extendsthe scroll swing jacks. A conduit 222 connects the ends of the cyiinders96, supply of fluid to which effects collapse of these jacks andrearward swinging of the scrolls. A conduit 223 connects the conduit 207with the conduit 222. A conduit 224 connects the conduit 208 with aconduit 225, which connects with the conduit 221 and with a conduit 225,controlled by spring loaded pressure relief valve 22.7 opening in thedirection of the arrow, i. e. towards the conduit 223, with the lutter.

The mode of oper tion of the structure described may now be readilyunderstood. lt will be appreciated that the resistance to forward swingof the scrolls will normally be less than the resistance to sumping and,accordingly, that admission of fluid to the conduit 298 will ordinarilycause the extension of the scrolls before commencement of sumping, andthat is the object of the hookup of the sumping and withdrawingcylinders and the scroll cylinders which is illustrated. ln like manner,retraction by the cylinder and piston mechanisms t6 will ordinarily bedelayed, on the supply of fluid to conduit Ztl'l', until the scrolls areretracted.

The operator will normally prefer to have the clean-up device rest n themine floor as indicated in Fig. l, during the sumping operation. Fig. lshows the disintegrating mechanism in retracted position, and thescrolls in rctracted position, and the disintegrating mechanism has notbeen lowered into sumping position. lt will be lowered to a positionsubstantially to continue the mine floor bel'orc stamping taires place.Unless it is desired not to have the scrolls traverse the mine floorduring the sumping operation, it will be unnecessary to shift the valve161, it' the latter has been used to vent the conduit 163; and shiftingof the valve 262 inwardly will supply fluid to the cylinder and pistondevices i6 and to the cylinder and piston devices 95. The cylinder 63will be vented through the conduit w1, chamber 187, diametric passage S,longitudinal passage f8.7-, diametric passage 1552, chamber i258,conduit E92 and conduits 2id and 207 and the exhaust passage through thevalve unit l!) land the conduit 259, back to the tank, so that theclean-up devices will rest on the mine floor. lf it be desired to raisethe clean-up device somewhat during the sumping operation, or during theforward swing of the scrolls before thc sumping operation starts, thevalve loi may be shifted to supply fluid to the conduit U3 and this willresult in a positioning of the valve` i722, 's shown in Fig. 7, and thesupply of fluid via the passages 78 and 177, the chamber W7, and theconduit E91 in desired quantity to the cylinder 63 to lift the clean-updevice. 'lhe cleanup device may bc held raised during retraction eitherby supply of fluid to the conduit M3 under control of the valve clementfdl, or, if this valve is centered and the fluid has been exhausted fromthe cylinder n3 as previously described, fluid will automaticallysupplied to the cylinder 63 when shifting of the valve 2li?. cicctssupply of fluid to the conduit 207, for a portion of this fluid willtraverse the conduit R92, chamber llit, the diametric passage 182. theaxial passage 183, the diametric passage lill, the groove Wfl, chamberl37 and conduit 19t, and lift the scrolls and the clean-up mechanism.

lt will thus be evident that withdrawal movement of the entiredisintegrating apparatus and rearward swing of the scrolls will beautomatically attended by lift of the clean-up mechanism under theaction of the shuttle valve.

The operations may be briefly summarized as follows: ordinarily theclean-up devices are free to ride on the mine bottom during forwardswing of the scrolls and advance, during sumping, bodily of the wholeclean-up mechanism, but the operator can operate the valve ll to liftthe clean-up devices at will during such movements. The clean-up deviceswill remain raised as long as pressure is furnished to or trapped in theconduit 163 by the valve ll. On retraction, the chamber 188 is suppliedwith pressure virtually immediately upon supply of fluid to the conduit207, and accordingly the clean-up devices will be raised throughoutretraction. Thus, (l) the apparatus described permits lifting of theclean-up devices whenever it is desirable during the forward movementsof theeiean-up devices. (2) The clean-up devices are lifted at all timesduring retraction. (3)v When the valve 161 is operated to supply fluidto the cylinder 63, the amount of lift is controllable but, with thestructure shown and described, the maximum potential lift is alwayseffected under automatic control. Further description appearsunnecessary.

While there is in this application specifically described one form whichthe invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that thisform of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln an apparatus of the character described, a base, a frame supportedby said base for reciprocation with respect thereto, cylinder and pistonmechanism for effecting such reciproeation, floor clean-up devicessupported by said frame and having means including cylinder and pistonmechanism for raising them relative to said frame and to a mine door onwhich said base rests and for controlling lowering of said devicesrelative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effecting fluidsupply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid respectivelyto eflect advance and retraction of said frame relative to said base andvalve means for effecting the supplying of fluid to and the exhaustingof fluid from said conduits, means for supplying and venting fluid withrespect to said second mentioned cylinder and piston mechanism including(a) a fluid supplying and venting conduit connected thereto, (b) aconnection with the conduit for the supply of fluid to effect retractionof said frame relative to said base, (c) a separate valve controlledfluid supply and exhaust conduit and (1!) means including a valvecontrolled by fluid supplied through said separate valve controlledfluid supply and exhaust conduit and movable relative to saidconnection, said fluid supplying and venting conduit and said separatevalve controlled fluid supply and exhaust conduit to connect saidseparate valve controlled fluid supply conduit and said connection onlyalternatively with said fluid supplying and venting conduit7 forpreventing venting of fluid supplied through said separate valvecontrolled fluid supply and exhaust conduit through the conduit forsupplying fluid to effect retraction of said frame relative to said basewhen the conduit last mentioned is effecting exhaust.

2. ln an apparatus of the character described, a base, a frame supportedby said base for reciprocation with respect thereto, cylinder and pistonmechanism for effecting such reciprocation, floor clean-up devicessupported by said frame and having means including cylinder and pistonmechanism for raising them relative to said frame and to a mine floor onwhich said base rests and for controlling lowering of said devicesrelative to said frame and the mine floor. means for effecting fluidsupply and exhaust of fluid relative t0 said first mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid respectivelyto eflcct advance and retraction of said frame relative to said base,and means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said secondmentioned cylinder and piston mechanism including a conduit connectedwith the conduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of saidframe relative to said base, a valve controlled fluid supply and exhaustconduit, a conduit connected with said second mentioned cylinder andpiston mechanism and valve mechanism responsive t0 the pressure in saidvalve controlled fluid supply and exhaust conduit for alternativelyconnecting the conduit connected with said second mentioned cylinder andpiston mechanism with the other two of the three conduits included insaid means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said secondmentioned cylinder and piston mechanism.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a frame supportedby said base for reciprocation with respect thereto, cylinder and pistonmechanism for effecting such reciprocation, floor clean-up devicessupported by said frame and having means including a cylinder and pistonmechanism for raising them relative to said frame and to a mine floor onwhich said base rests and for controlling lowering of said devicesrelative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effecting fluidsupply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid respectivelyto effect advance and retraction of said frame relative to said base,and means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said secondmentioned cylinder and piston mechanism including a conduit connectedwith the conduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of saidframe relative to said base, a valve controlled fluid supply and exhaustconduit, a conduit connected with said second mentioned cylinder andpiston mechanism and a shuttle valve device with which the last threeconduits recited are connected.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a frame supportedby said base for reciprocation with respect thereto, cylinder and pistonmechanism for effecting such reciprocation, floor clean-up devicessupported by said frame and having means including a cylinder and pistonmechanism for raising them relative to said frame and to a mine floor onwhich said base rests and for controlling lowering of said devicesrelative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effecting fluidsupply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid respectivelyto effect advance and retraction of said frame relative to said base,and means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said secondmentioned cylinder and piston mechanism including a conduit connectedwith the conduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of saidframe relative vto said base, a valve controlled fluid supply andexhaust conduit, a conduit connected with said second mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism and a shuttle valve device with which the lastthree conduits recited are connected, said shuttle valve deviceincluding a valve element controlled by the fluid pressure in said valvecontrolled fluid supply and exhaust conduit.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a base, a frame supportedby said base for reciprocation with respect thereto, cylinder and pistonmechanism for effecting such reciprocation, floor clean-up devicessupported by said frame and having means including a cylinder and pistonmechanism for raising them relative to said frame and to a mine floor onwhich said base rests and for controlling lowering of said devicesrelative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effecting fluidsupply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism including conduits for supplying fluid respectivelyto effect advance and retraction of said frame relative to said base,and means for supplying and venting fluid with respect to said secondmentioned cylinder and piston mechanism including a conduit connectedwith the conduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of saidframe relative to said base, a valve controlled fluid supply andexhaust-conduit, a conduit connected with said second mentioned cylinderand piston mechanism and a shuttle valve device with which the lastthree conduits recited are connected, said shuttle valve deviceincluding a valve element controlled by the fluid pressure in said valvecontrolled fluid supply and exhaust conduit and having fluid conductingmeans for connecting the conduit connected with the second cylinder andpiston mechanism alternatively with the other two of the last threeconduits recited.

6. In combination, a frame reciprocable with respect to a mine floor,pressure fluid operated mechanism for effecting such reciprocation,floor clean-up devices supported by said frame and having meansincluding pressure fluid operated mechanism for raising them relative tosaid frame and to the mine floor and for controlling lowering of saiddevices relative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effectingfluid supply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism including conduits for supplying fluidrespectively to effect advance and retraction of said frame, means forsupplying and venting fluid with respect to said second mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism including a connection with theconduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of said frame, andmeans for supplying fluid to said connection at will when said lastmentioned conduit is vented and preventing venting of the fluid sosupplied through said vented conduit.

7. In combination, a frame reciprocable with respect to a mine floor,pressure fluid operated mechanism for effecting such reciprocation,floor clean-up devices supported by said frame and having meansincluding pressure fluid operated mechanism for raising them relative tosaid frame and to the mine floor and for controlling lowering of saiddevices relative to said frame and the mine floor, and means forsupplying and venting fluid with respect to said second mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism including a connection with theconduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of said frame,means for supplying fluid with respect to said second mentioned pressurefluid operated mechanism at will when the last mentioned conduit isvented, and valve means automatically controlled by fluid supplied bysaid means for supplying fluid with respect to said second mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism at will, and controlling communicationbetween said connection and said second mentioned pressure fluidoperated mechanism, for preventing venting, through said connection andthe conduit for supplying fluid to effect retraction of said frame whenthe conduit last mentioned is effecting exhaust, of fluid supplied -toeffect actuation of said second mentioned pressure fluid operatedmechanism.

8. In combination, a frame reciprocable with respect to a mine floor,pressure fluid operated mechanism for effecting such reciprocation,floor clean-up devices supported by said frame and having meansincluding pressure fluid operated mechanism for raising them relative tosaid frame and to the mine floor and for controlling lowering of saiddevices relative to said frame and the mine floor, means for effectingfluid supply and exhaust of fluid relative to said first mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism including conduits for supplying fluidrespectively to effect advance and retraction of said frame, means forsupplying and venting fluid with respect to said second mentionedpressure fluid operated mechanism including a connection with theconduit for the supply of fluid to effect retraction of said frame, andmeans for supplying fluid to said connection at will when said lastmentioned conduit is vented including a manually operable control valveand a pressure fluid actuated shuttle valve controlled by and traversedby fluid supplied under the control of said manually operable controlvalve.

9. In a continuous mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobilebase, a disintegrating mechanism for dislodging coal or other mineralfrom a solid seam or vein and mounted on said base for horizontalrectilinear movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto, afloor clean-up mechanism disposed beneath the said disintegratingmechanism in advance of said base for cleaning up any loose materialwhich has fallen to the mine floor, said clean-up mechanism comprisingcoacting gathering devices pivotally mounted to move horizontally backand forth near the floor level, means for moving said disintegratingmechanism forwardly and rearwardly rectilinearly relative to said base,coacting means for effecting swinging of said gathering devicesforwardly and outwardly about their pivots as said disintegratingmechanism is moved forwardly rectilinearly by its moving-means and foreffecting swinging of said gathering devices rearwardly and inwardlyabout their pivots as said disintegrating mechanism is moved rearwardlyrectilinearly by its moving-means, means for automatically lifting saidfloor clean-up mechanism from the mine Hoor and holding it out ofcontact with the floor each time said disintegrating mechanism is movedrearwardly and said gathering devices move rearwardly and inwardly, andmeans for effecting lifting of said clean-up mechanism at will at othertimes than during rearward movement of said gathering devices.

l0. in combination, a mobile base, a dsintegrating mechanism fordislodging a mineral from a Solid seam, means for supporting saiddisintegrating mechanism for sumping and withdrawing movements withrespect to said base, cylinder and piston means for effecting suchsumping and withdrawing movements, floor clean-up mechanism supportedfor reciprocation with said dsintegrating mechanism and havingsupporting means including cylinder and piston means for raising thesame above a mine floor and lowering it into supported relation to theoor, fluid supply and discharge conduits leading to the opposite ends ofsaid first mentioned cylinder and piston means, a fluid supply andexhaust conduit leading to the second cylinder and piston means, asource of fluid under pressure, a discharge line for fluid underpressure, valve means for connecting said last mentioned conduitselectively with said source and with said discharge line, and valvemeans for connecting said Huid supply and discharge conduits selectivelywith said source and with said discharge line, said last recited conduithaving a shuttle valve between its ends and said shuttle valve having aconnection with the fluid supply and discharge conduit through whichHuid is supplied to said lirst mentioned cylinder and piston means toeffect withdrawing movement of said disintegrating mechanism.

No references cited.

